PLA warships spotted near India's Andaman islands

The INS Saryu, one of the two Saryu-class patrol vessels stationed at Port Blair under the Andaman and Nicobar Command.

The Indian Navy has decided to deploy more vessels near the Andaman islands in the Bay of Bengal after spotting Chinese warships conducting reconnaissance activities in the region, according to the Duowei News, a US-based outlet operated by overseas Chinese.

The only tri-service theater command of the Indian armed forces, based in Port Blair of the Andaman and Nicobar islands and known as the Andaman and Nicobar Command, would very likely to become the primary target of the People's Liberation Army if China and India went to war. The attention of the Indian military is currently on the defense of its mountainous northern border with China, leaving the Andaman islands vulnerable to a potential Chinese attack.

Even if the Indian ground forces could withstand a Chinese attack on its northern border for seven to eight days, it can only defend the Andaman and Nicobar Command with landing or patrol ships, a source said. A source from the Andaman and Nicobar Command said that Chinese warships have been spotted in the region twice already. Without the proper missiles to defend against incoming enemy aircraft and warship, the source said that it would be very hard for Indian forces to defend the island.

New Delhi plans to deploy more warships and perhaps even aircraft to the region, said the report. Vice Admiral Pradeep Kumar Chatterjee, the commander-in-chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, said the Indian military's defense of the Andaman islands will become unbreakable over the next five years. New ports are being constructed and the Indian Air Force is likely to be deployed to the region as well to protect India's backyard.